U.S. lauds Colombia 'breakthroughs'; Kerry calls Santos

HAVANA (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry applauded Colombia's government and FARC rebels on Wednesday for "major breakthroughs" after the parties pledged to end Latin America's longest-running war in six months. "Peace is now ever closer," he said in a statement. "I have called President (Juan Manuel) Santos to congratulate him and his negotiating team for their courage and commitment to the peace talks under extraordinarily difficult conditions." (Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)